Multiple use and multiple position lounging furniture



United States Patent [721 lnventors David. .1. Petersen 2219 N. Washington St.; Bruce Martin, 2224 N. Puget Sound, Tacoma, Wash. 98406 [21] Appl. No. 718,056

[22] Filed April 2, 1968 [45] Patented Dec. 15, 1970 [54] MULTIPLE USE AND MULTIPLE POSITION LOUNGING FURNITURE 8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] [1.8. CI. 297/377 [51] A470 4/28 [50] Field of Search 297l373- 380 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,208,945 7/1940 Miller 297/377X 2,308,410 l/1943 Winter 297/377X 2,571,139 10/1951 Johnson 297/377 2,614,612 10/1952 Wogmon 297/377X 2,868,274 1/1959 Miller 297/377X 3,018,132 1/1962 Baker... 297/377 3,092,224 6/1963 ONeil 297/377X 3,342,294 9/1967 Beatty 297/377X Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant ExaminerGlenn O. Finch AttorneyRoy E. Mattern, Jr.

ABSTRACT: Lounging furniture is adjustable to support the user in prone and various reclining positions and to fold compactly for carrying or stowing. A frame is cushioned on top and another cushion is flexibly secured to the first along one edge by continuing upholstered materials so it may befolded over the cushioning frame and alternately be unfolded adjacent to it. A pair of hinged support panels are retractably held in and operated from a bottom recessed structure of the frame to adjustably support the frame in a plurality of inclined positions. Casters are secured to the frame to facilitate moving the lounging furniture.

PATENTED 0501 5 I978 SHEET 2 UF 2 Although various types of lounge furniture have been made 3 and suggested nonehave been known'to fully meet the demands of personswantinga comfortable unit which may be used conveniently in and about their homes, cabins, boats,

trailers, or camp sites. Some give support but not comfortable support. Others are too small or too big. Still others are too flimsy. Some additional ones require-inflation of cushions. Most are not conveniently stored and moved into storage spaces often not used yet accessible. Many others do not serve more than one purpose. As a result inthe past persons continued to use pillows and other householdobjects to informally rest on and to prop up their bodies in comfortable positions.

Therefore this portable, foldable lounging furniture has been made available fulfilling many demands, serving at all times equally well as home formal living room furnitureand as informal lounging furniture when carried compactly and then as desired unfolded at the beach, on a. boat,in a trailer or in a cabin. I v

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Furniture used during lounging inside or outside at or near floor or deck level is made to be used in several ways being adjustable into various configurations of its assembled components, such as footstool, ottoman, rollable seat, level resting pad and a selective incli'nable resting pad. When not in use it may be folded compactly and rolled away. to a closet or under other furniture, or it may behand carried likeluggage.

In each embodiment, a principal frame member serves as: an underneath receiving space for securing inclining mechanisms and supports; mounting place below for securing casters and handles; and attac hmentsupporting area above for securing upholstered cushions in whole and in part, the latter cushions unfolding from a position over the frame to a position adjacent to it increasing the -restingand supporting cushioned surfaces. a

DRAWINGS I Two embodiments of the invention are illustrated inthe drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a perspectlve view of lounging furniture with a head rest, with all portions compactly arranged for stowing, carrying or using as a seat or footstool;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the folded lounging furniture as shown folded in FIG. I; v

FIG. 3 is a side view of the lounging furniture, shown in FIGS. I and 2, after unfolding and manipulating into a reclining position, some portions being removed and also dotted lines being used,.both to show how the reclining adjustments are made to support the user;

FIG. 4 is a partial side view, with portions'removed, to show the retracted reclining structures andfoperating components that are shown extended in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an end view, with portions, removed to show the retracted reclining structures and operating components that are shown extendedin FIG. 3; v I

- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of lounging furniture with all portions compactly arranged for stowing, carrying or using as an ottoman; v

FIG. 7 is a side view of the folded lounging furniture as shown folded in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a side view of the lounging furniture, shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, after unfolding and manipulating into a'reclining position, some portions being removed and also dotted lines being used, both to show how ther'eclining adjustments are made to support the user. g

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Head Rest Embodiment An embodiment l0 utilizing a head rest is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, and mechanism useful in it and all embodiments is illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. This head rest embodiment of lounging furniture 10 has a frame 12 on which a head cushion l4 and back cushion 16 are secured on its upper surface 18. A seat cushion 20 is flexibly connected to rear edge 22 of back cushion l6 and selectively either folded to overlie back cushion l6 or unfolded to lie adjacent back cushion 16. The flexible connection members are continued upholstery materials 24.

Frame 12 is formed with a recess 28 which is accessible from below to receive, hold and guide an adjustable reclining support assembly 30. This assembly 30 has two principal panels hinged together and which are held on and guided by frame 12. Rear panel 32 has its rear end 34 connected to frame l2 by spring loaded hinge 36. Forward panel 38 has its rear end 40 connected to forward end 42 of rear panel 32 by hinge 44.

A handle 46 on forward panel 38extends below its lower surface 48. Unless a pull is exerted on this handle 46, the spring force in hinge 36 tends to keepzpanels 32 and 38 in recess 28 of frame 12. v

'I-Iowever,'more is needed to insure retension of the panels. Therefore a cross angle, bar or rod 59 is secured to forward end 60 of forward support panel 38. It is long enough to extend at each of its ends beyond the width of panel 38. Each of these ends 62, 64 are slidably guided and retained within respective longitudinal grooves 66, 68, formed in frame 12 at the edges of recess 28 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

By gripping handle 46 and pushing forward panel 38 toward rear panel 32, their joined ends at hinge 44 move out from recess 28 in frame 12. The extent of theirmovement depends on the selection of notch position. As'shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, five transverse notches 50, 52, 54, 56 and 58 are located in frame 12 above recess 28. The third notch 54 has been selected in FIG. 3.

In any of the notched positions when this lounge furniture 10 is placed on floor or deck 70, frame 12 is raised off floor or deck 70. As a consequence during inclined lounging positions when steadiness is wanted, there is a removal of casters 72 from their other times desired effective rolling contact with floor or deck 70.

Ottoman Embodiment 7 An embodiment 80, utilizing two sizeable cushions 82, 84, one directly above the other when folded is an ottoman as shown in FIG. 6 and 7, and when unfolded is a lounge as shown in FIG. 8.

These cushions are flexibly secured together along common sides by continuing upholstery materials 86. Bottom cushion 82 is secured to a frame which is identical in construction to frame 12. Therefore the same numeral is used as are the other numbers designating all members secured to frame 12.

Essentially from the production and utilization standpoints, the only differences in the head rest and ottoman embodiments are in the size and arrangement of the upholstered cushions secured to respective frames ,12.' Preferably the upholstery materials are in part continued about the frame edgesfor appearance and better hold down.

SUMMARY OF SUGGESTED USES IN SUGGESTED PLACES Either embodiment is: a floor level'adjustable lounge, a foot rest, a stool, extra seat, etc. Either embodiment is useful in the: living room, recreational room, family room, T.V. room, den, bedroom, etc. Either embodiment is conveniently carried to: ski cabin, beach cottage, patio, backyard, boat, station wagon, beach, etc.

This lounge furniture is ready for unlimited uses inside and outdoors as it is adjusted into one of its several desirable configurations.

We claim:

1. Lounge furniture comprising:

a. frame having transverse position means and longitudinal guide means both accessible from below;

b. upholstered cushions supported by the frame, at least one cushion flexibly connected to the first alternately to be folded over it and to be folded adjacent to it depending upon the intended use of the lounge furniture; and

c. reclining equipment adjustably retained by the longitudinal guide means of the frame to position the frame parallel to a surface of an overall support such as a floor and also alternately on a bias to such surface at a selected back rest angle, the adjustable reclining equipment has two panels hinged together and stored parallel to the frame when inactive, and when in use the hinged panels are moved in part outwardly from the frame to form a bracing support, the two hinged panels, as a unit, are hinged to the frame at one of their ends and slidably retained longitudinally along the frame at the other of their ends, such retension at a selected angular position back rest angle occuring as the slidably retained other end is moved into one of the multiple transverse position means of the frame.

2. Lounge furniture, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unit of the two hinged panels of the adjustable reclining equipment are caused to return to their panel position parallel to the frame by a spring means following the withdrawal of slidable retained other end from a multiple transverse position means.

3. Lounge furniture, as claimed in claim 2, wherein rolling means are secured to the frame to place the lounge furniture in rolling contact with a supporting surface when the adjustable reclining equipment is positioned near the frame.

4. Lounge furniture comprising:

a. frame having transverse position means and longitudinal guide means both accessible from below;

b. upholstered cushions supported by the frame, at least one cushion being secured to the frame and another cushion flexibly connected to the first alternately to be folded over it and to be folded adjacent to it depending upon the intended use of the lounge furniture; and

c. reclining equipment adjustably retained by the longitudinal guide means and transverse position means of the frame to position the frame parallel to a surface of an overall support such as a floor and also alternately on a bias to such surface at a selectedback rest angle, the reclining equipment being two panels hinged together and stored as both panels are extended parallel to the frame when inactive, and when actively used both panels are directed outwardly from the frame to form a vee bracing support.

5. Lounge furniture, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the two housed panels of the adjustable reclining equipment are as a unit hinged to the frame at one end and slidably retained longitudinally along the frame at their other end.

6. Lounge furniture, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the unit of the two hinged panels of the adjustable reclining equipment are caused to remain in a selected angular position, placing the frame in a selected angular position relative to a support surface, by moving the slidably retained other end into one of the multiple transverse position means of the frame.

7. Lounge furniture, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the unit of the two hinged panels of the adjustable reclining equipment are caused to return to their panel position parallel to the frame by a spring means following the withdrawal of slidably retained other end from a multiple transverse position means.

8. Lounge furniture, as claimed in claim 7, wherein rolling means are secured to the frame to place the lounge furniture in rolling contact with a supporting surface when the adjustable reclining equipment is positioned near the frame. 

